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Top Royals News

  • Royals' Daniel Lynch: Making case for rotation

    Lynch has allowed four runs on nine hits and five walks with nine strikeouts over 13 innings across five Cactus League appearances (three starts).

    Lynch's role is still to be determined, but he's stretched out enough to at least be a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. Alec Marsh, who is also in the rotation competition, has started just one of his five appearances, though he has covered 14 innings. Both Lynch and Marsh are pushing for the No. 5 starter spot, which could be available after Jordan Lyles has been slowed by back pain in spring training. Roster decisions are likely to come over the next week or so as manager Matt Quatraro trims down the spring roster ahead of Opening Day.

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  • Royals' Jake Brentz: Exits game with trainer

    Brentz exited Sunday's spring training game against the Brewers with a trainer, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

    It appears that Brentz may have injured his hamstring, and he exited after grimacing in pain. The pitcher had been having a rough spring with six earned runs allowed, eight strikeouts and 11 walks in 4.1 innings entering the outing.

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  • Royals' Cole Ragans: Named Opening Day starter

    The Royals announced Sunday that Ragans will start their Opening Day game March 28 versus the Twins at Kauffman Stadium, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

    After being acquired from the Rangers last June, Ragans was a revelation for the Royals upon stepping into the big-league rotation. Over his 12 starts with Kansas City to close out last season, Ragans posted a 2.64 ERA and 89:27 K:BB across 71.2 innings. He's carried that momentum over to the Cactus League this spring, allowing four earned runs over 8.2 innings while striking out 10 and issuing just two walks. Ragans' lack of an established track record makes it tough to bank on him completely repeating his hot run to end the 2023 season, but he should continue to pile up strikeouts even if his ERA takes a dramatic turn for the worse.

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  • Royals' Jordan Lyles: Hit hard in return Saturday

    Lyles (back) allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out one over three innings in a Cactus League game Saturday versus the Cubs. He did not walk a batter.

    Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports Lyles was able to get to about 50 pitches with a bullpen session following the start. Lyles dealt with lower-back tightness earlier in March, which has slowed his ramp-up for the 2024 season. Rogers adds that Lyles should be built up enough to start at the beginning of the season, but there's no guarantee just yet that the right-hander will open the year in the rotation. Both Daniel Lynch and Alec Marsh have been solid in spring games, with Marsh showing the most upside with a four-inning piggyback appearance after Lyles' start Saturday.

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  • Royals' Natanael Garabitos: Traded to Kansas City

    The Mariners traded Garabitos to the Royals on Friday as the PTBNL in the Samad Taylor trade.

    Garabitos spent all of 2023 with the Mariners' Single-A affiliate, turning in a 4.02 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 40.1 innings. He represents a lottery ticket for the Royals, and the 23-year-old's slow progress through the minors isn't encouraging.

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  • Royals' John Schreiber: Seen as lock for bullpen

    Schreiber is viewed as a lock to make the Royals' bullpen, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

    Schreiber's role is yet to be officially defined by manager Matt Quatraro, but it's likely he is in the high-leverage mix after logging nine saves and 33 holds over 110 appearances between 2022 and 2023 for the Red Sox. The right-handed reliever has done everything right in spring so far, allowing five hits and striking out five without walking a batting over five innings through five Cactus League appearances. In addition to Schreiber, Will Smith and James McArthur are seen as the Royals' top relievers, with Smith most likely to close given his past work as a closer.

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  • Royals' John McMillon: Sent to Triple-A

    The Royals optioned McMillon to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

    The 26-year-old made his MLB debut last August and allowed one run with an 8:0 K:BB in four appearances before being sidelined by a forearm strain. McMillon jumped straight to the majors for Double-A last season, but it appears he'll head to Triple-A to begin 2024.

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  • Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Light bullpen session this weekend

    Hernandez (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a light bullpen session this weekend, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

    Hernandez has been playing catch the last few days and will do so again Tuesday before progressing to some mound work shortly thereafter. The Royals have not ruled the reliever out for Opening Day yet, but it seems unlikely that he'll have time to ramp things back up by then.

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  • Royals' Dairon Blanco: Has mild calf strain

    Blanco has been diagnosed with a mild calf strain following an MRI, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

    Royals manager Matt Quatraro referred to the strain as "very mild" and said he expects Blanco to be ready for Opening Day. The speedy outfielder will take a break from running for a few days but will still be able to hit and throw.

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  • Royals' Jordan Lyles: Returning to Cactus action Saturday

    Lyles (back) will start for the Royals in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Cubs, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

    Lyles has been battling back spasms but got through a recent live batting practice session with no issues, clearing the way for his return to games. The veteran right-hander projects as the Royals' No. 5 starter but is being pushed by Alec Marsh and Daniel Lynch.

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  • Royals' Tyler Gentry: Sent to minor-league camp

    The Royals optioned Gentry to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

    Gentry was added to Kansas City's 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from being selected during the Rule 5 Draft, but he was never a likely bet to make the Opening Day roster. The 25-year-old spent last season at Omaha and had a .253/.370/.421 slash line with 16 homers and 14 steals in 129 games, and there's a decent chance he makes his MLB debut at some point in 2024.

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  • Royals' Matt Sauer: Solid in spring

    Sauer has allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out eight over six innings across four Cactus League games.

    Sauer was selected by the Royals from the Yankees in the Rule 5 Draft in December. As such, he has to be on the Royals' major-league roster all season or they will have to offer him back to the Yankees. Sauer hasn't pitched above Double-A yet in his career, but he had a 3.29 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 83 strikeouts in 68.1 innings at that level last season. The Royals have plenty of candidates for rotation spots, but Sauer's pitched well enough in the spring to justify getting a bullpen spot in 2024.

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  • Royals' Alec Marsh: Heavy usage in spring

    Marsh has allowed one run on five hits and four walks while striking out 12 over 10 innings across four Cactus League appearances.

    Marsh doesn't have a clear path to the Royals' rotation, and that's been reflected in his usage -- only one of his four spring outings has been a start. The 25-year-old started eight of his 17 appearances last season, posting a 5.69 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 85:39 K:BB over 74.1 innings overall. Marsh may still be stretched out in the minors at Triple-A Omaha if he doesn't earn a spot in the Royals' bullpen, but he's pitched well enough this spring to earn a spot in the majors. The one knock against Marsh is that he still walks too many batters.

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  • Royals' Dairon Blanco: Heading for MRI

    Blanco will undergo an MRI on his calf Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

    Blanco dealt with cramping in his camp during Saturday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks and was forced to exit the contest early. The MRI is considered precautionary, and he should be back in action in a few days if the results come back clean.

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Injuries

Player Injury
K. Wright SP Kyle Wright SP Shoulder
J. Brentz RP Jacob Brentz RP Hamstring
D. Blanco LF Dairon Blanco LF Calf
C. Hernandez RP Carlos Hernandez RP Shoulder
K. Bubic SP Kris Bubic SP Elbow

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Tue, Mar 19 @ 10:05 pm
Scottsdale Stadium
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